Living Well: A stitch in time — Why prevention really is the best medicine

You’ve likely heard the saying, “prevention is the best medicine.” It’s lasting, because it’s true! When we are proactive about our health and take care of our bodies like they are the only ones we’ve got, we tend to live longer and healthier.

“Even before something is wrong, people take their vehicle into the garage to get preventative maintenance done. If they don’t, they risk larger problems down the road. The human body is much the same way and is amazing, so why not take care of it,” said Kelsie Bond, PA-C with Memorial Regional Health’s Specialty Clinic and Rapid Care Clinic.

A good example of how prevention improves outcomes is diabetes. If you catch diabetes in its early stages, as pre-diabetes, you can halt its progression and sometimes even reverse it. Think of the diagnosis of pre-diabetes as a wake-up call to take action and correct the issue before it becomes full-blown diabetes. Actions include improving the way you eat, being active, losing weight and quitting smoking.

Preventing Type 2 diabetes

People at risk for pre-diabetes are often overweight with a body mass index of 25 or higher. Those who developed gestational diabetes when pregnant, have high blood pressure, or are older than age 45 are also at increased risk. A hemoglobin A1c (HgA1c) test, available at a discount during March, gives a three-month average of your blood sugar levels.

“Diabetes can lead to a whole host of chronic health issues. The biggest chronic issues can be heart disease, which can lead to heart attack or stroke. Others include vision loss, neuropathy, and a weakened immune system. If caught early, treated, and monitored, these complications can be significantly reduced,” Bond said.

Preventing heart disease

As with diabetes, the key to preventing heart disease is living a healthy lifestyle that includes a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and healthy fats, as well as regular exercise. If you don’t know where to start, simply make one healthy change today. Maybe that’s cutting out soda, increasing your water intake, or making a goal to move every day. At the MRH health fair, you can explore a variety of vendor booths featuring healthy living to spark your motivation.

“Being proactive about heart disease is one of the most important health decisions you can make. It can reduce your chance of a heart attack, stroke, congestive heart failure, cardiac arrhythmia, and hypertension,” Bond said.

Preventing cancer

With cancer, early detection is key. If you catch it before it metastasizes — or spreads to other parts of the body — your chance for full recovery and survival are often high. According to the National Cancer Institute, there is substantial evidence that regular exercise lowers cancer risk, especially when it comes to colon cancer, breast cancer, and endometrial cancer. That’s because exercise lowers hormones, reduces inflammation and improves immune system function.

Eating fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants can reduce cancer risk. Focus on those with bright colors, such as purple, red, orange, and dark green.

“Finally, get recommended screens. Early screening and treatment can be significant and can reduce the spread of cancer to other parts of the body,” Bond said.

Take a proactive, preventive step towards good health by taking advantage of low-cost screening during March, then getting your results at the MRH Community Health Fair from 8 a.m. to noon April 13 at The Memorial Hospital.

The Dog Days of Summer were on full display this past month, as a variety of concerns pushed stocks and bond yields lower. After reaching new record highs in late July, the S&P 500 Index dropped approximately three percent in August as trade concerns pressured investor sentiment around the world. Impacts of U.S.–China trade tensions reverberated throughout the economy and financial markets in recent weeks, including weakening global manufacturing data and plunging sovereign interest rates.